Reinventing Society with Philosophy, Religion, and Science

What might a society that utilizes the valuable insights from the perspectives of philosophy, religion, and social science look like? This volume examines these principles to improve our social institutions, from education, social welfare, government, and criminal justice to the economy. The contributors apply their knowledge in a hands-on, practical way, making this book accessible to teachers, police officers, social workers, economists, congressional legislators, and undergraduates. Professors and students across all these areas will find a real-world application of their subjects. Those who think ‘big-picture’ about society or have a general interest in philosophy, religion, or social science will find ideas here that will spark their imagination and, perhaps, action.

Neil Wollman, Ph.D., is former Senior Fellow at Bentley University, USA. Prior to that, he held the position of Professor of Psychology at Manchester University, Indiana, for 20 years. His work includes a book on applying psychological principles to promote peace, and he is Co-founder and former Co-director of the National Prevention Science Coalition, which works with Congress to promote evidence-based policy.

Carolyn J. Love, Ph.D., currently teaches at Elmhurst University, USA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a PhD in Constructive Theology from Loyola University Chicago. Her work bridges the gap between science, theology, and philosophy. She serves as the President of the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS), connecting her interest in science, philosophy, and religion.

"This book is a compilation of strong evidence reflecting that societal ills and needs can be effectively addressed only through a studied and deliberate merging of well-established philosophical, religious, scientific and policy frameworks, and applying them to the most impactful areas of our lives, such as education, social welfare, government, criminal justice and the economy. It couldn't come at a better time, given the challenges we are currently facing in these areas."

Bobby Vassar Former Virginia Cabinet official and Congressional Chief Counsel.

"This book offers a unique contribution to the practice of science advice – the mobilization of knowledge in public decision making – by emphasizing the treasure trove of advice that can be distilled from philosophy, religion, and social science for a diverse set of policy domains. The attention paid by the authors to what theoretical knowledge means in the real world is refreshing. The editors have done an outstanding job in bringing these contributors together in one volume."

Arthur C. Petersen, DPhil (Oxford) DPA (Amsterdam) PhD (Utrecht) Professor of Science, Technology and Public Policy at University College London and Editor-in-Chief of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science.

"In the book Reinventing Society with Philosophy, Religion, and Science, the authors have skillfully argued that valuable insights from philosophy, religion, and social science can be utilized to improve societal institutions such as education, social welfare, government, criminal justice, and economy. The book reflects the extensive real-world experiences of the contributors and depicts a clear vision of building a modern, knowledge-based and inclusive society. The book is accessible to a wide range of audiences such as policymakers, public servants, community leaders, economists, teachers, academics, and students of various disciplines as well as the general public. The solutions offered in the book are practical and easy to implement, and they are well-articulated. The authors have succeeded in portraying the big picture and inspiring the readers to take action to blend the new vision into the social fabric. This is not an ordinary academic book that attempts to incorporate philosophy, religion, and science into an idealized society. Rather, the book inspires readers to learn from philosophy, religion, and science and utilize the extracted principles to change existing societies for the better and make them more functional and enduring. The book is sure to broaden the horizons of readers of different backgrounds in a meaningful way. It demonstrates that philosophy, religion, and social science can be great sources of practical insight for remaking organizations and rebuilding society. The book is well-suited to support the efforts to develop effective solutions to social challenges, and it is a must-read for policymakers, practitioners, and those in leadership positions of social institutions."

Yunus Çengel Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nevada, USA

Philip Barclift

Jenn Bellamy

Frits Bos

Harry Brighouse

Frank Den Butter

Chris Connelly

Melissa Grady

Tom Grimwood

Dennis Gunn

Robin Jenkins

Russell Lidman